Blackburn manager Steve Kean dismisses 'fan attack' reports as 'laughable'

Blackburn manager Steve Kean has dismissed claims that a Rovers fan broke into the club's training ground this week and attempted to confront him as "laughable".

It was reported today that having managed to get into the Brockhall complex, an intruder charged at Kean and was stopped by a bodyguard.

But asked this afternoon about what had happened, the Scot - who, with his side struggling near the foot of the Barclays Premier League, has been the target of abuse from a section of Blackburn supporters throughout this season - rubbished the story.

"It is laughable really," said Kean, speaking at his pre-match press conference to preview Monday's home clash with Wigan.

"A couple of weeks ago before we played Norwich there were supposed to have been fights at the training ground between players, which never happened.

"Then I was supposed to be in Munich last week, which I wasn't, and now this week people are telling me that there is supposed to have been things going on at the training ground with a fan.

"We have high security here and there have been no altercations - nothing has happened.

"It is obviously people trying to stir something up which is not there, but we have our main focus, which is Monday night's game against Wigan.

"There has been nothing but a good atmosphere here."

Blackburn - 19th in the table, three points from safety with two matches left to play - go into the Wigan contest staring the prospect of relegation in the face after losing six of their last seven games.

Their latest outing was a 2-0 defeat at Tottenham on Sunday, in which Rovers failed to muster a single shot on goal.

Kean admits it was a disappointing display from his men, but insists spirits in the camp are high ahead of a fixture on Monday which, depending on results this weekend, they may have to win to stand any chance of avoiding the drop.

"We were poor, especially with the ball," Kean said of the Spurs match.

"I thought we kept the very mobile and exciting unit of Tottenham quiet to a certain extent, but then when we got the ball... normally our passing is good and we can give good service to the front, but that wasn't up to our usual standard.

"We have been working on that all week in this fantastic weather we have had for a couple of days.

"The sessions have been good - the lads have been bright, the atmosphere has been positive and there has been lots of good football."

He added: "It wasn't our normal selves (against Tottenham), but I felt the criticisms in some sections of the press were harsh, because to suggest we just gave up - that is not in the DNA of the team.

"Anybody who wants to come and look at us on Monday night, judge us (then) - we will give a response."

Meanwhile, Kean has been giving his reaction to the news this week about former Blackburn boss Roy Hodgson, describing the 64-year-old's appointment as the new England manager "fantastic".

Kean said: "I said a couple of months ago that I thought there were two contenders - that Harry Redknapp was a fantastic candidate, and also Roy.

"The reason I mentioned Roy was because years and years ago I used to come (to Blackburn's training ground) and watch Roy when I was a youth team coach at Reading.

"I have seen him operate for a lot of years and he is fantastic coach. I think he will bring about an understanding of a team shape that people will enjoy working with.

"I'm sure if you speak to any players who have been coached by Roy, they will tell you want a good coach he is and I think it is a fantastic appointment."

PA